Come fall 2026, when Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) students are getting ready for their first day of school, many of whom will be doing so as the first cohort of the brand-new program.
The new four-year Bachelor of Creative Industries (BCI) will combine studio-based art and design education with entrepreneurship, creative innovation and industry experience. Graduating students will be prepared for diverse career paths at the intersection of art, design, media, technology and arts management, according to an AUArts-issued release.
AUArts VP Academic, Dr. Dawn Johnston, said the school is very excited for the program.
“Students who come to AUArts are all strongly interested, talented, and skilled in art and design, and that’s at the core of this new program in preparation to be the next generation of creative professionals,” she said.
“These will be folks that are going to work in art industries, and not always as practicing artists themselves, but providing that leadership in the creative and arts industries.”
Creative industries, under the context of Calgary and western Canada, often include film, television and performing arts.
“We know that Calgary is full of thriving arts organizations, galleries, and creative art spaces that hire folks who have that combination of training in art and design, but also that sort of preparation to be working on the industry and administration side of things,” she said.
“We expect that our students are going to go into roles like creative directors or media production managers, working in digital strategy consulting or brand strategies and working within television, film and arts administration.”
During their four-year schooling, coursework will include studio-based learning, standard at AUArts, paired with administration and management style courses.
Now until July 1, applications are open for the fall cohort of the BCI program.
Keeping talent close to home
Once the 2026-27 school year starts, AUArts will be the only post-secondary in western Canada to offer a four-year undergraduate BCI degree that combines a focus on creative industries with multidisciplinary studio-based learning. Fostering homegrown talent is very important, according to Myles McDougall, Alberta Minister of Advanced Education.
“Alberta’s government is proud to support innovative programs like the Bachelor of Creative Industries, which prepare students with the creative, entrepreneurial and technical skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy,” he said in a statement.
“By bridging art, design and industry, this program will help grow Alberta’s creative sector and ensure graduates are ready to contribute to communities and industries across the province.”
Dr. Janis Goldie, President and CEO of AUArts, said that the BCI builds on the strengths that define the school, including deep studio learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and a culture of experimentation.
“By integrating creative practice with entrepreneurial and industry-focused learning, we are creating new opportunities for students to develop sustainable and impactful creative careers,” she said in a statement.
Moving forward, Johnston said that AUArts wants to underscore its heritage as a creative hub, while expanding programs to fit a modern design and arts landscape.
“This is an extraordinary place. You walk in through the doors, and you’re surrounded by cool, creative expressions everywhere you look. It’s a space where it feels very alive, and the space is changing constantly by virtue of the art that is being exhibited,” she said.
“This is a place where experiential learning is at the core of everything. Our students are constantly having hands-on learning experiences, which we know resonates for students in almost any subject area and is core to what students in art design are interested in.”
